| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| cut my teeth on |
learned as a young person, learned as I grew up
|
Yes, I can tie a bow knot. I cut my teeth on string and ropes.
|
| cut off |
not allowed to do it any more, stopped from doing
|
We have to cut off beer sales at 12 midnight. No more sales.
|
| cut off |
drive in front of, swerve into your lane
|
That jerk cut me off! He swerved into my lane!
|
| cut off |
interrupt, prevent from talking, shut down
|
The chairman cut me off in the middle of my question. "You're out of order," he said.
|
| cut off your nose to spite your face |
make your problem worse, hurt yourself because you dislike yourself
|
If you abuse drugs to forget a problem, you are cutting off your nose to spite your face.
|
| cut out for |
have natural ability for, be suited to
|
I guess I'm just not cut out for bull riding. I'm not good at it.
|
| cut rate |
second class, sold for less than full price
|
We bought some cut-rate lumber and built a shelter for the boat.
|
| cut the cheese [B] |
let off gas, fart, pass wind
|
Then somebody cut the cheese, and everybody laughed.
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| cut the crap [B] |
stop telling lies, stop doing stupid things, no more bull
|
Will somebody tell him to cut the crap and give us the facts!
|
| cut the mustard |
do the job properly, cut it
|
If I'm too old to cut the mustard, maybe I should retire, eh.
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